Brave (2012)

Brave Synopsis

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly MacDonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and the signature Pixar humor enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The film takes aim at theaters on June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

A grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor, “Brave” uncovers a new tale in the mysterious Highlands of Scotland where the impetuous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) defies an age-old custom and inadvertently unleashes chaos, forcing her to discover the meaning of true bravery before it’s too late.”

No, this theory isn’t meant to be treated as gospel. It’s a fun exploration that admittedly makes Pixar sound like a more together studio than some of its weaker films may have us believe. As a geeky icebreaker, it’s hard to beat.

Depending on how things turn out, the situation could spell trouble for both the big chains and the independent theater owners. If you've ever wondered why popcorn, candy and soda is so damn expensive at the movie theater while blockbuster films are making millions upon millions of dollars, it's because the theater itself actually doesn't make a great deal of money off of a new title during its opening weekend.

the new Merida has since been pulled from Disney's site, replaced by the Merida we've grown to know and love. (As seen below.) It's unknown how the public protest will ultimately impact further Merida merchandizing, but it's at least heartening to see the House of Mouse is listening to parents and fans furious over the message they send by overtly sexualizing a character specifically made to empower young girls.

The Disney Princess has a knack for diluting the most interesting qualities of all its characters and shoving them into a generic princess box, overlooking the fact that Mulan wanted to be a soldier more than a girl in the dress, for example. But Merida's placement in this crowd, especially since the movie ends with her not marrying anyone and continuing to reject all the fancy trappings of princess-dim, seems especially galling

Mark Andrews, who was brought in to replace Chapman, accepted the award and thanked Chapman from the stage. Chapman, who was at home watching the show on her couch, took comments from followers and revealed – a little cynically – that she wasn’t even invited to attend the ceremony.

Looking back a year full of movies you have to remember the bad with the good. We can celebrate the best of the best and express our love and appreciation for them, but for the sake of balance it’s important to look back at the ones that we expected more from – the ones that didn’t deliver on expectations or hopes. These are the titles we see in theaters and leave saying, “Man, I wish that was better.”

The entire year, in general, has been very, very good for animation, as this roundtable discussion with award-worthy animation directors proves. In preparation for the Oscar season, the L.A. Times gathered the creative minds behind the year’s top animation movies for a lengthy conversation about their processes.

November was a good month for Disney•Pixar, which released both the Brave Blu-ray and The Pixar Short Films Collection Volume 2 Blu-ray on November 13. What do both of these home entertainment releases have in common? They both boast the magical, wonderful short, “La Luna.” If you’ve missed out on the short story thus far, or just love the little tale, we have a special clip from the “La Luna” short to share with you.

Disney•Pixar has put together a really nice set for Brave, the Scottish tale featuring fiery redhead Merida. The flick will be hitting Blu-ray and DVD on November 13, and to celebrate, we have a few short clips from the film to share with fans. If you are in to lore or rebellious teens, these are certainly clips to check out.

Pixar’s first foray into storytelling with a female protagonist ended up being funny, enchanting, and wholly satisfying. If you didn’t catch Merida, the fiery redheaded heroine in Brave, when she made her debut in theaters, you won’t have long to wait. Disney•Pixar is bringing Brave to Blu-ray and DVD with plenty of time before the holidays, releasing the title on November 13.

Co-director Brenda Chapman was absent from all of these press opportunities, and even though Andrews and everyone else spoke highly of how she guided the project, it wasn't hard to see why-- Chapman was taken off the project and replaced with Andrews with just over a year left to go before Brave's release date

I woke up this morning with no idea of what Con was going to be, and now I have a better idea of what Con is going to be, but feel a little bad for being semi-attracted to an underage Pikachu (you'll see - why'd she have to make a cute face?)

With Brave being set in medieval Scotland, many of us idly wondered how certain recurring allusions—like the Pizza Planet truck from Toy Story or the Luxo Ball—could be woven into the fabric of this fantasy. Well, now we've got stills that reveal two such hidden gems in Brave, both found within the wacky witch's den. Can you spot them?

In our ongoing effort to help you make sense of Netflix Instant's overwhelming catalogue of streaming titles, we offer this bi-weekly column in which we search for worthwhile watching so you don't have to. Whether you don't want to brave the high temperatures to venture out to your local theater, or just want more movies you can enjoy from the comfort of your couch, we've got you covered with a selection of features that are fitting companion pieces to the latest batch of theatrical releases.

Pixar's latest Brave has received a slew of fiery criticism, much to the surprise of those of us who loved it. And while every Pixar pic has a dissenting outlier, I've found that many of Brave's detractors take issue with one particular element of the film above all others, a twist that is carefully hidden in the marketing but will be discusses below, so be warned: spoilers lie ahead.

Brave isn't the first time Pixar has saved its “gotcha” moment for the final scenes. And it got us thinking: What are the five best endings in Pixar history? We put it to a vote, and the CB staff came back with these selections (as well as explanations as to why these endings work so well)

A lot of the critics of Brave took issue with the "twist," which is actuality the central plot of the movie, but which was cleverly hidden in much of the film's marketing. But here at CB, four us all were totally down with Brave and where the story unexpectedly led us, so we got together to figure out why some people objected to the movie so muc

How many box office hits can one studio make? An even better question: how many number one movies in a row can one studio release? This weekend Pixar launched Brave, a movie which has not only shown the studio can quickly and solidly bounce back from a critical flop (last year's disappointing Cars 2) but that it is still going strong with its thriteenth number one box office release in a row.

The reviews for Brave may not be as strong as for many Pixar movies, but the box office tells the same, massively successful story. The studio's first film with a female lead character made $25 million on Friday, putting it on track for a $70 million weekend and an easy first-place finish for the weekend

Today marks the release of Disney Pixar’s Brave, the thirteenth movie released by the animation giant since they made their debut in 1995 with Toy Story. In its time the studio has become famous for not only its consistency, regularly putting out some of the best films that the movie industry has to offer, but its compelling characters and ability to reduce grown adults to tears with hardcore emotional storytelling. And it’s a legacy that lives on in their latest film.

On the occasion of the studio's new movie Brave-- which is getting more mixed reviews than usual for Pixar-- we've decided to finally speak up and reveal our own personal Pixar misses, the movies that everybody else adores and we simply can't get on board with

This week on Operation Kino we're grabbing our bows and arrows and riding through the glen with our hair flowing in the breeze, as we review the new Pixar effort Brave. From there we talk about an issue that comes up a little bit in conversations about Brave

One of the reasons I'm starting to think Pixar's Brave may prove to be a must-watch on the big screen is the setting of the story. Previously released trailers and teasers have given us a glimpse of the lush looking Scottish Highlands which serve as the backdrop to the Disney film. And the latest video promoting the film focuses almost entirely on that as the filmmakers and actors discuss the setting in which the story takes place.

Pixar movies have always celebrated bravery, and true to form, it's not always the kind of bravery you'd expect. Whether admitting they're wrong or clinging to their dreams or simply helping their friends of out of a jam, lots of Pixar heroes have bravery right where it counts-- which is why it was surprisingly hard to pick our own bravest Pixar heroes

So does Brave continue the 3D winning streak? Does our heroine Merida, with her bows and arrows and gravity-defying red hair, truly pop in the third dimension, to the point that it's worth paying for both your 3D glasses and the kid-size ones? We're back yet again to help you answer that question

The massive Pixar team is used to making changes to their films until they get things perfect, but that doesn't mean they don't need someone behind the scenes to make sure every transition runs smoothly. Enter Katherine Sarafian, a Pixar veteran who started off in production, spent some time bringing a sense of storytelling to the marketing department, and then moved back over to production in time to become the producer of Brave

Happy Father’s Day to all the baby daddys out there, but a big shout out goes to the best dad in the whole world: me. And Little Baby Rotten Week showed her appreciation when she gave the best gift ever this morning: “sleeping in” until 6:30 AM. No card necessary when that kind of miracle happens

We have less than two weeks to go until Pixar's Brave arrives in theaters. Though I needed little reminder of that fact, my excitement over the film was enhanced just yesterday when I happened upon the Brave display in the Disney Store at my local mall. Having just returned a shirt at another store, I was on a mission to burn through the money I'd recently re-acquired on presents for my nephews...

As the theatrical release of Pixar's Brave is just a few weeks away, we might expect to see a bit more of the film in trailers and other promotional videos. Today, that comes in the form of another featurette, which plays like a TV advertisement, much in the way the Freedom Broch compilation album ad did. And just as that amusing video did, this one manages to give us a look at the move in the process.

Brave, their newest film set for release on June 22, went through that process of death and rebirth more than most of the studio's films. It's been in development for six years, and two years ago, with the release date deadline looming, director Brenda Chapman was replaced with Mark Andrews, a brain truster himself who'd just finished work as a co-writer on John Carter of Mars. There were bits of concept art and models for Brave sprinkled all over the campus

Later this month, Pixar will release its thirteenth movie, Brave. Some will stand in awe at its beautiful scenescapes and its technical perfection. The rest of us will fall in love with an entirely new set of characters. So, in honor of Brave, the first Pixar movie with a female protagonist, here are our favorite women from each of the studio’s first twelve movies…

Want to hear something amazing? We are less than a month away from the release of Pixar's Brave and we still have very little clue as to what it's about. Having seen the first 30 minutes of the film, I can tell you that almost every second of footage, trailers, and clips have come from the earliest part of the story and give little indication as to what the movie is actually.

In promoting their latest effort Brave, Disney and Pixar have so far proved savvy, showcasing the animated adventure's gorgeous design work and wild-haired heroine without getting too caught up in the film's plot. They know that their well-reputed brand is sure to attract many fans, while the promise of Pixar's first female protagonist will lure others, so why give away the film's plot twists to sell it?

In just over a month, Pixar's Brave arrives in theaters. While the trailers have given us some idea about the plot of the movie, which focuses on a young Scottish woman looking to change her fate, this amusing promotional video has fun with the Scottish theme and gives us a few glimpses of the movie.

In addition to giving us a fair introduction to the lead character and her family, the recently released trailer for Pixar's Brave also gave us a glimpse of the adventure awaits Merida, a Scottish girl who's looking to change her fate. These recently released photos offer a closer look at a few moments featured in the trailer, including that final scene.

Every time I think I couldn't be more eager to see Pixar's Brave, another trailer shows up online to prove me wrong and heighten my anticipation. This latest one further introduces us to the story's heroine, Merida, and gives us a glimpse of the adventure that awaits her.

Katniss Everdeen isn’t the only arrow-shooting female on the big screen this year. Soon enough, Disney will release the promising looking Pixar film Brave into theaters. The trailer for the animated film already gave us an introduction to the story’s heroine, who not only proves to have a determined spirit, but also really good aim.

Germain Lussier and I recorded a video blog at the end of our long day of interviews, right in the front lobby of Pixar headquarters, next to a poster of Brave's heroine Merida. We were both really impressed with the opening 30 minutes and how Pixar seems to have gotten back in its original storytelling groove, but we found some faults as well

As excited I am for the story inBrave, the newest film from Disney/Pixar, I'm just as excited (if not more excited) to see the animation. While Pixar movies have always been beautiful, there's an intensely beautiful, natural element that we've seen in the previews thus far. Just looking at Merida's hair, with its detailed strands and small curls, you want to rush to your local theater to see it on the big screen.

It's really more of a clip than a trailer, but unlike most movie clips—that tend to suffer for lack of context—this one not only is crystal clear in its concept but also deftly display who Merida is. Here a trio of uninspiring young men competes in an archery contest to prove their worth and potentially win Merida's hand in marriage.

We've been waiting a long time to see more from Pixar's newest feature, Brave, and fortunately that wait is almost over. While we don't have a specific time for the release, a brand spanking new trailer is scheduled to arrive online tomorrow and will hopefully take us deeper into the world behind the film. But for those of you that have the patience of an toddler, I have some methadone to treat your heroin addiction.

Well, I didn’t see this one coming. Copyright or plagiarism lawsuits are a dime a dozen in Hollywood, but now Pixar’s upcoming film, Brave, is in the midst of an argument that seems, well, a little silly. This past summer the Atlanta National League Baseball Club filed an objection to Disney/Pixar’s changing the name of their upcoming film from The Bear and the Bow to Brave. The ANLBC are the owners of – wait for it – the Atlanta Braves.

The trailer in some ways plays right down the line of the typical princess narrative, like Mulan set in Scotland, but there still seems to be a lot we don't know, and I'm counting on the rigorous Pixar storytelling method to get some surprises in there. I'm all for a story about a tomboy with a bow and arrow fighting a giant black monster, but I'm also counting on Pixar to show us something there we haven't seen

After the disappointment (in quality if not in box office returns) that was Cars 2, we hope that Pixar will redeem themselves next summer with Brave. Set to open in theaters on June 22nd, 2012, Brave tells the story of Merida, a young Scottish princess who's more interested in archery than in her many suitors. After following one of the mysterious lights known as Will-o'-the-Wisps, Merida discovers an old witch and makes a deal that could endanger the entire kingdom.

If you’ve seen the first trailer for Pixar’s Brave, you already know how absolutely incredible the film looks. A period piece set in medieval Scotland, the animation looks unlike anything we’ve ever seen from the elite studio before and today at the D23 Expo they showed plenty of new footage.

It's your classic, very vague teaser, giving us a Scottish brogue voiceover and a very brief introduction to our heroine, Merida, who we can already tell takes no guff from anyone, be they human or a giant black bear three times her size. It's also got the same moody, Highlands-gloomy atmosphere promised

As other critics try to figure out exactly where Cars 2 fails, and what it means that Pixar has ended their decade-plus perfect batting average, I've got five suggestions for how they can move forward from here and keep the Pixar flame alive

Until now, Pixar’s early stuff from Brave has been comprised of landscape sketches and a few early character mock ups. Yesterday we got ourselves a brand new teaser poster which showed off more of the back of the film’s star, Merida’s, head and lots of her Scottish-as-hell red hair. Well now we’re getting our first look at a few of the characters in what we can assume is a somewhat final form.

With Cars 2 earning some of the worst reviews in Pixar history, it might already be time to start looking forward to their next film, which thankfully isn't a sequel and features the studio's first female heroine

Let’s just be honest here. Even though Cars 2 isn’t out yet, there’s really no element of mystery or intrigue associated with it. No matter how wonderful it is, it’ll still lack the excitement of a totally fresh set of characters